Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium, episode 225, Bellissarius in Metal.

When I announced I would be taking a break back in the autumn, I received an email from

listener Brian Sherry, offering to produce an episode of the show for me.

He told me about the Metal band judicator recording an entire album about Bellissarius,

and he very kindly offered to interview them on my behalf.

As he pitched it to me, where else will you hear the phrase, gallima your time is done

in modern music.

I said yes and Brian got lead singer and writer John Yelland on the phone and they

talked about turning the life story of Justinian's most trusted general into a full metal

album.

What you're about to hear is an edited version of that interview.

I think you'll really enjoy it, particularly those of you who've ever pondered, turning

a piece of Byzantium into pop culture.

They talk through the concept and the choice of moments in Bellissarius' life to capture

in song, and they play a few snippets of music to give you an idea of what the album sounds

like.

If you'd like more then the full two hour interview is available on judicator's YouTube

channel, and of course if you'd like to buy the album, let there be nothing.

Go to judicatormetal.bandcamp.com or check it out on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify or

wherever you get your music.

I am still working on the bonus content that I owe many of you, and I will be back at

some point in the spring with the narrative.

...